RGC will host the Ospreys in the final game in the first half of the WRU Academy U18 Championship this afternoon (Sunday, 13 September) hoping to pick up their first win.
Having pushed unbeaten Cardiff Rugby close in their first home fixture, the Gogs will be seeking to recover from their 67-29 mauling by the Dragons last weekend. The Ospreys, champions for the past two years, have won only once to date this season.
Cardiff, with four wins under their belt, lead the way in the table, but the Dragons are hot on their heels after beating the Scarlets in the last play of the game at Llandovery on Friday. Having trailed 18-12 at the break, they hit back to win 31-28.
A driving maul in the last play saw flanker Zac Little go over with the final play of their game and make it three wins in a row for the young Men of Gwent. That presented the Scarlets with another narrow loss, having fallen to Cardiff 38-36.
The big boot of Scarlets full back Rhys James kept them in the fight throughout with two long range penalties in the first half adding to tries from hooker Elis Evans and wing James Bentley. James also added a conversion, while the Dragons had tries from Little and Morgan Suller.
Scarlets No 8 Harvey Thomas ran in a 50 metre interception try after the break, and James added the extras and kicked his third penalty for a match tally of 13 points.
But second half scores from outside half Louis Morgan and captain George Bradbury paved the way for Little to steal the headlines at the death for the Dragons.
TEAMS
RGC U18: Will Brock; Ianto Cawley, Chester White, Rhys Cochran, Mabon Jones; Eneas Parry-Fink, Sam Tottman; Gwion Aled, Toby Edge, Luke Sinnott-Davies, Liam Edwards, Gruff Glyn Jones, Aled Jones, Riley Jones, Will Jones
Reps: Frank Walton, Morgan Roberts, Carwyn Roberts, Celt Carr, Cain Taylor, Morgan Sweetman, Derwyn Francis, Tom Hogan
Ospreys U18: Dylan Quin; Ethan Davies, Evan Thomas, Zac Mizen, Kayden Brooke; Cai Davies, Aled Evans; Ashton Maybank, Bobbie Bennett, Jayden Underhill, Joel Wallace, Will Carroll, Jacob Jones, Evan Trott, Charlie Noaks
Reps: Jonah Ratti, Charlie O’Brien, Lewys Morse, George Eyre, Harrison Watkin, Harrison Hook, Joe Bailey, Segun Al-Burwani
Scarlets U18: Rhys James; Steffan Thomas, Cole Inker, Dyaln Williams, James Bentley; Evan Rees (captain), Macs Morgan; Ollie Tucker, Ellis Evans, Jayden Duxberry, Szymon Dominiak, Brad Williams, Ben Morgan, Ryan Lanfear, Harvey Thomas
Reps: Bobby Thomas, Jenson Cornelius, Bobby Parr, Elliott Fouracre, Will Hobley, Lloyd Davies, Ifan Davies, Charlie Eatley
Dragons U18: Liam Lawlor; Rhys Dyer, George Bradbury (captain), Jack Williams, Dylan Cole; Louis Morgan, Isaac Williams; Logan Leonard, Morgan Suller, Gabe Pugh, Olly Beynon, Gethin Clarke, Rafe Llewelyn, Zac Little, Troy Raymond
Reps: Jimmy Sargeant, Rudi Creel, Yi Sheng Chi, Ton Vizard, Cam Lewis, Elis Anderson, Rhys Wood, Alfie Davies
WRU ACADEMY U18 CHAMPIONSHIP – PHASE 1
Round 1 – Sunday 16 August
DRAGONS 38 – 53 CARDIFF
OSPREYS 33 – 19 SCARLETS
BYE: RGC
Round 2 – Sunday 23 August
SCARLETS 31 – 14 RGC
CARDIFF 43 – 5 OSPREYS
BYE: Dragons
Round 3 – Sunday 30 August
RGC 19 – 24 CARDIFF
OSPREYS 19 – 41 DRAGONS
BYE: Scarlets
Round 4 – Sunday 6 September
DRAGONS 67 – 29 RGC
CARDIFF 38 – 36 SCARLETS
BYE: Ospreys
Round 5 – Sunday 13 September
SCARLETS 28 – 31 DRAGONS
RGC v OSPREYS – Parc Eirias 2.30 pm
BYE: Cardiff
RAG / Academy U18 Champions 2005-2026
2026: Ospreys: 2025: Ospreys: 2024: Scarlets; 2023: Ospreys; 2022: Dragons: 2021: No competition (COVID); 2020: Cardiff Blues; 2019: Dragons: 2018: Scarlets: 2017: Ospreys; 2016: Cardiff Blues; 2015: Ospreys; 2014: Cardiff Blues: 2013: Scarlets; 2012: Cardiff Blues; 2011: Cardiff Blues; 2010: Cardiff Blues; 2009: Ospreys; 2008: Ospreys; 2007: Ospreys; 2006: Ospreys; 2005: Scarlets Champions: Ospreys 9, Cardiff 6, Scarlets 4, Dragons 2